"Raise the Roof" (Session Added!)

"Raise the Roof." Verb. Def: To heighten excitement and create a stir; to get the party started!

On Monday, October 6, at 8:45 a.m., come listen as John Huggard and Harold Evensky "raise the roof" in a provocative debate about optimal retirement income solutions. Moderated by Michael Kitces, this spirited conversation will address the utilization of variable annuities versus mutual funds when constructing retirement income solutions for clients. Panelists will share their personal theories, beliefs and myths on why their view makes sense and will then "turn the table" on each other with questions. Prepare to walk away with new insights and knowledge.

The session will follow standard debate protocol: Each speaker will have 20 minutes to present his theories on why one strategy is better than another; Kitces will then lob 2 to 3 prepared questions to each speaker and ask for a timed response. At the conclusion, each debater will be given the opportunity to prepare one question that will be addressed by his opponent.

"I think this session will be the talk of the conference," sayss task force chair, Marc Freedman. "It's an opportunity to turn a challenging situation into a conversation that advances the financial planning dialogue."

Financial Frontiers Awards Presentations Announced

The Financial Frontiers Awards showcase research papers that present new ideas and practical solutions for financial advisors and their clients. Awards are given in two categories: financial techniques and financial concepts. The winners of these categories will present their award-winning papers at FPA Boston 2008 at 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, October 7.

"The Hedonic Pleasure Index TM – An Enhanced Model for Spending Inflation," by James Shambo took top honors in the Financial Techniques category. Shambo is a CPA and president of Lifetime Planning Concepts, Inc., a financial planning and investment advisory firm in Colorado Springs, Colorado. According to the paper's findings, the accepted use of the Consumer Price Index – All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) to project spending inflation and determine safe withdrawal rates from retirement accounts will cause many retirees to run out of money years ahead of schedule. Shambo found that the Hedonic Pleasure IndexTM provides a more accurate measurement of spending inflation because, unlike the CPI-U, it accounts for consumption behavior.

This year's winner in the Financial Concepts category is, "Who Is Planning for the Planner? – Becoming Consumers of Our Profession," by Richard S. Kahler, CFP®, ChFC, CCIM. Kahler is president of Kahler Financial Group in Rapid City, South Dakota. The paper examines why financial planners typically do not seek assistance from other planners. Kahler says the primary reasons behind this trend are trust, fear of being shamed, loss of control, competency, cost, spousal issues and value – which are largely the same ones that their prospective clients might have. However, Kahler's findings show that most financial planners who engage the services of other planners experience a number of personal and professional benefits.

"Best of Boston" Track

New to FPA Boston 2008 is the "Best of Boston" track. Throughout this educational lineup you will find revolutionary and prominent thinkers, professors and orators from Boston's most prestigious universities. These presenters will deliver their thoughts, visions and research projects that could steer the next generation of financial planning.

"Getting to Yes"

Dr. Daniel Shapiro, the director of the world-renowned Harvard International Negotiation Initiative and associate director of the Harvard Negotiation Project, wrote the international bestseller Getting to Yes. Shapiro offers an innovative approach to dealing with conflict in the book he co-authored titled Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate. He holds a doctorate in clinical psychology and his research reveals that there is an art and science to connecting with people.

He has developed a method to help audiences improve their ability to connect with others based on five core human concerns. Whether he's consulting with Fortune 500 companies or international governments, his talks have been hailed as "nothing short of mesmerizing." Shapiro was recently named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. To learn more about Shapiro please visit www.WashingtonSpeakers.com/DShapiro. Shapiro will be presenting a super session on Tuesday, October 7, titled "Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate."